'Hounds' Snow ties TL saves record

Published
7:00 pm CDT, Thursday, April 17, 2003

By Stewart Doreen

Sports Editor

By Nora Frost

Midland Reporter Telegram

By Stewart Doreen

Sports Editor

Midland's Freddie Bynum came through with a pair of clutch two-RBI hits, and Bert Snow tied a Texas League record with his 53rd career save as the Midland RockHounds defeated San Antonio 7-5 Thursday night at First American Bank Ballpark.

The RockHounds - who continue to lead the Texas League West with an 11-3 record - once again came up with late-inning heroics. Trailing 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh, the Hounds' Nos. 9 and 1 hitters came through for the second time in the game.

The No. 9 hitter Steve Stanley knocked a RBI single to left scoring Mike Lockwood. Then, Bynum hammered a two-run triple to the left field fence, giving the RockHounds the lead for good. It was the second time the two came through in such a manner.

In the fourth Stanley's RBI single and Bynum's two-RBI helped bring Midland back from a 4-0 deficit and tie the game at 4-4.

So in a matter of three innings, the two combined for six RBIs. Coming into the game, they had combined for nine the entire season.

"The thing about the team is it is not just one player stands out, it is the whole team," said Bynum, who was 2-for-5 with four RBIs. "We are young, but the guys have showed they can get the job done."

With the RockHounds up heading into the ninth inning, they handed the ball to their closer who finished this game like 52 before - with a save. Despite allowing the first two runners on base, Snow made history thanks to a diving catch by Mike Lockwood, a strikeout and a ground ball to Bynum, who redeemed himself after committing an error earlier in the inning.

This save tied a league record set by El Paso's Sean Maloney in 1995-96.

"The record is nice," Snow said, "but at this level it is about development. The bottom line is to improve every day so you can get to the big leagues."

While Snow's name will now top Texas League as well as franchise record books, the 'Hounds will stay atop the West Division thanks to the bullpen which includes Snow and Ron Flores, who actually preceded Snow with three perfect innings of relief. The bullpen did its job keeping the 'Hounds in the game and then protecting a lead like the pitching staff has done numerous time this season.

All totaled, the Hounds are now 11-0 when leading after seven innings.

"They stopped them and kept us in the game," Midland manager Greg Sparks said. "It is nice to know we have the down there."

San Antonio looked as if it were going to hand Midland its second home loss of the young season twice. The Missions (6-9) scored three runs in the third off RockHound starter Darvin Withers. In the third, A.J. Zapp belted a home run - his fourth of the year - off Withers to give the Missions a 4-0 lead.

After Midland came back to tie the game thanks to RBIs by Adam Morrissey, Stanley and Bynum, the Missions took the lead back when Scott Maynard drove his first homer of the year off Withers in the fifth. Still, the 'Hounds came back, taking advantage of 10 walks off Mission pitching and not being deterred by the 11 runners they left on base.